Body-Image, Personal Space and Self-Esteem: Preliminary Evidence for "Focusing" Effects

Abstract

A repeated-measures design was used to investigate the effects of a self-esteem manipulation on measures of body-image and personal space. Significant interaction effects were obtained for penetration, body-cathexis, and simulated interaction distance, and the results confirmed the prediction that subjects whose self-esteem had been enhanced would obtain significantly higher body-cathexis, and significantly lower penetration and interaction distance scores than those whose self-esteem had been reduced. Although the interaction effect was nonsignificant, similar trends were observed for barrier. Figure drawing and spatial orientation appeared to be unrelated to self-perception. Factor analysis showed that the tests were unrelated, but the self-esteem manipulation had a "focusing" effect on boundary and interaction distance. Overall, the results provide experimental support for the defensive distancing hypothesis.